Chef: Donal Skehan

Jack McCarthy’s black pudding is championed by some of the best Irish chefs – it was served to the Queen on her state visit in 2011 and his Bramley apple sausages are made from free-range pork. Fortunately they are now becoming more widely available in specialist stores and online.

If you've never had Jerk chicken before and were wondering what all the fuss was about, well, you are in for a treat. The spicy and earthy marinade produces the most delicious tender chicken you will ever have. Served with a cooling and sweet mango salsa, this is one of my ultimate summer dishes.

For an easier to carve option this Christmas Day, try this rolled turkey breast, which is stuffed with a sweet and aromatic stuffing. I love the combination of maple, orange, smoked bacon and apple spiked with the cranberries, but you can easily adapt this with your own favourite flavours.

Affogato is good at any time of year and it is an incredibly easy dessert to prepare. Choose the best vanilla ice cream you can find and make sure you use good, strong espresso (regular brewed coffee will not work here). The recipe for the biscotti makes about 30 but they keep very well in an airtight container.

Roasted squash produces wonderful soups with a velvety consistency when blitzed smooth. The addition of coconut milk adds a creamy and exotic flavour, but if you don’t want to use it, you could replace with vegetable stock. This is a warming soup, ideal in autumn and winter. Serves between four and six people.